Speck made the FitFolio case for the iPad 2 which was a quite popular product. With the new iPad 3rd gen, Speck has released a new iteration of the FitFolio case with the hard shell designed to fit the tablet perfectly and the cutouts for the slightly different locations of the rear camera and the top mic to line up in the center. There are some improvements in design as well in the new case to make it easier to use and also the cover collection of the FitFolio case for the new iPad includes not only the solid colors such as Black, Pomodoro, Peacock (pictured in this review) and Grape, but also three patterned designs including ColorBar Berry, HalfTone Plaid and FreshBloom Pink/Black.

Design

The Speck FitFolio for the new iPad 3rd gen is a portfolio case made with two types of materials. The case frame that holds the iPad tablet is made with hard plastic that's very protective against scratches, bumps and pokes to the tablet; and it also helps protect the tablet from drop shock. The tablet holder fits the new iPad perfectly and it's very easy to put the case on and take it off. Connected on the back and covering the front display, the front cover is made with either vegan leather (in solid color selections) or strong fabric (in patterned selections). The front cover has inserts to provide extra protection, and a plastic clip that shuts the cover by latching onto the tablet's edge, which is a new design feature.

The Speck FitFolio case for the new iPad 3rd gen has microsuede interior lining, and the interior color matches the color of the tablet holder frame. The cover attaches to the back of the case very securely, and though it has a hard shell and a front cover, the FitFolio case adds only slightly more bulk and looks quite slim.

Features

As the new iPad 3rd gen is slightly thicker and the rear camera and top mic have slightly different locations than the iPad 2, Speck has redesigned the FitFolio with cutouts that center around the ports and buttons they expose. The hard plastic holder has clean but curved cutouts to give you access to the 30-pin charging/syncing port and the speaker grill on the bottom of the iPad 2. A long cutout on the side exposed the screen lock and volume buttons, and three cutouts on top give you access to the power button, the mic and the audio jack. The cutout for the audio jack is large enough for you to use with any 3.5mm headphones. The back cutout centers the rear camera in the frame.

The Speck FitFolio for iPad case has a well thought-out design that uses the hard plastic frame to hold up the tablet in one of the indented grooves for better viewing angles for multimedia playback, typing and more. There are four grooves on the inside of the front cover, though the last groove is less stable at holding up the tablet as the case uses the weight of the tablet and the hard shell to stand steadily. This isn't to say that you can't use the furthest groove, you just need to be more careful. The front cover also offers a new feature in this new FitFolio case for the new iPad 3rd gen and that's the inclusion of magnetic strip that automatically wakes up and sleeps the tablet screen for your convenience.

Conclusion

We very much enjoyed using the FitFolio case for the iPad 2, the new FitFolio for the new iPad adds even more features and colors. The case looks stylish and slim, and offers very good protection with a hard shell and a front cover. The front cover selection is excellent, and the built-in stand mostly works well. The case is easy to use and doesn't add too much bulk or weight to the new iPad tablet.